Printing press



Feb. 21, 1933.

C. S. CRAFTS I PRINTING PRESS Filed March 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l C. S.CRAFTS PRINTING PRESS Feb. 21, 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1930 llllllllllll 1. Ill-Iliu PatentedFeb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURTIS S. CRAFTS, OF .OAKPARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOSS PRINTING PRESS C0., OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PRINTING PRESS Application filedMarch 6, 1930. Serial No; 433,749.

My invention relates to printing presses and has for its object theprovision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts fortransmitting the power from the main driving shaft to the form andimpression cylinders for driving such cylinders smoothly and evenly witha minimum of friction and so as to provide a maximum of flexibility inthe matter of the control of such drive. To this end, it is one of theobjects of my invention to provide an arrangement of chain driving meansto be used in lieu of the heavy vertically disposed shafting heretoforeemployed, whereby a lighter construction may be utilized and whereby thevibration incident to driving a press at high speed may be materiallydecreased.

As is well understood, when a heavy vertically disposed shaft isemployed, driven at high speed and in turn driving at high speed aplurality of heavy cylinders arranged horizontally in parallelarrangement,

it is impossible to arrange the parts so as to prevent a cooperativetendency to produce vibration, since the vertical shafting has atendency to vibrate sidewise in the same direction as that in which thecylinders tend to vibrate sidewise. It is one of the objects of myinvention to provide an improved arrangement of driving parts in whichthe normal sidewise vibration of the cylinders is at right angles to thenormal sidewise vibration of the driving mechanism whereby the tendencyof one part to vibrate in one direction may in part ofiset and overcomethe tendency of the other part to vibrate in a different direction.

It is another object of my invention to provide a construction in whichthe parts shall be as compact as it is possible to make them, with thedriving mechanism extending to a minimumextent beyond the face of themain frame whereby a press as a whole shall occupy a minimum of space.It is another object of my invention to improve mechanisms of this typein sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by whichI have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawingsand are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to benew and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims. I

In the drawings, all of the figures of which are more or lessdiagrammatic for better illustrating the novel features of myconstruction,-

Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a printingpress embodying myimproved construction, showing one unit of a press to gether with afragmentary portion'of a second unit; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken at line 22 of Fig. 1, showingthe parts only at the outer face of the frame at the near side of theunit as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken at line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the partsat the far side of the unit as shown in said Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but partially broken away, showing amodified form of construction.

Fig. 5 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 as seenfrom the rightinsaid figure, showing the parts at the near side of the ma chine as shownin said Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is another view similar to the lower portion of Fig. 1 andshowing another modified form of construction;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken at line 7-7 of Fig. 6,showing the parts at the far side of the unit; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 6 but showingstill another modified form of construction.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in which correspondingparts are indicated by the same reference characters, 15 indicates aheavy frame-work extending lengthwise of a printing press, having unitpress frames 16 mounted thereon at spaced intervals therealong. Each ofthe frames 16 is provided with the operating parts comprising a pressunit, such parts in the unit shown in Fig. 1 comprising form cylinders17, impression cylinders 18 cooperating with said plate cylinders, andink drums 19 and cooperating parts for delivering the required amount ofink from the form cylinders 17. At'the far side of the fountains 20 tothe p unit as shown in Fig. 1, the cylinders 17 and 18 are provided withintermeshing gears 21 and 22, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 for causingsuch cylinders to rotate in cooperative relation.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, each of the form cylinders 17 isprovided with a bevel gear 23 fixedly connected therewith on the outerface of the adjacent standard of the frame 16, such bevel gears being inmesh with bevel gears 24 fixedly mounted upon opposite ends of a shaft25 (see Fig. 2) mounted by means of brackets 26 on the outer face of theframe standard. The shaft 25 is provided at substantially its middlepoint with a gear 27 by which the shaft and connected parts are driventhrough the medium of a driving chain 28 passing around the gear 27 atits upper end and around a gear 29 at its lower end, the gear 29 beingmounted upon a longitudinally extending shaft 30 mounted in bearingbrackets 31 on the outer face of the frame bar 15. The endless chain 28is adapted to be tightened by means of a gear 32 mounted upon the end ofan adjustable arm 33 which is adapted to be adjusted by any suitablemeans not shown for providing proper tension of the chain 28. In theconstruction shown, the gear 32 is fixedly mounted upon a shaft 34 whichcarries a gear 35 fixedly mounted thereon, which gear 35 meshes with asmaller gear 36 carried by a shaft 37 which constitutes the pivotalmounting for the arms 33, the arrangement being such that the gear 36and shaft 37 are driven by the chain 28. The shaft 37 in turn isconnected by suitable gearing with the fountain rollers 38 for drivingsuch rollers in the desired timed relation.

The shaft 25 is also provided with a gear 39 about which passes anendless chain 40 for driving a shaft 41 at the top of the frame, suchdriving being effected through the medium of a gear 42 carried by saidshaft as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

By the use of my construction as illustrated, power is applied to theprinting couples comprising the cylinders 17 and 18 by the use of thepositively acting endless belt 28, and further by the use of the endlessbelt 40 to the shaft 41. By reason of the positioning of the belt 28 inthe arrangement as shown, any tendency for vibration of the power meansfrom the shaft 30 to the shaft 25 is applied longitudinally of thecylinders 17 and 18 rather than transversely thereof. The tendency forthe driving means to vibrate is accordingly not cooperative with thetendency for the cylinders to vibrate, and any tendency for the belt 28and its immediately cooperative parts to vibrate longitudinally of thecylinders has a tendency to offset and overcome to at least a slight extent the tendency forthe cylinders of the unit to vibrate laterally. Asa result of this construction, a. smoother and more even operation athigh speeds is attained.

By the use of the endless belt driving means, the loss in power betweenthe main driving shaft and the cylinders is kept to a minimum. By thisarrangement, the lost motion or back-lash effect is also very materiallyreduced, the driving chains being normally kept taut-so as to preventlost motion. Inasmuch as the cylinders are very heavy and have a veryconsiderable momentum when rotating at high speeds, it will beappreciated that the reduction in backlash is of very considerableimportance. By the use of my improved arrangement, the likelihood of oneor another of the cylinders running at any time by its inertia at agreater speed momentarily than that of the other cylinders so as tothrow the cylinders temporarily out of timed relation is very materiallycut down, and the danger of sudden strains applied from the cylinders tothe web is substantially eliminated.

In the form of mechanism as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the arrangement isthe same as that above described, except that a longer belt43 is used inlieu of the belt 28, the belt 43 extending at its upper end about a gear44 fixedly mounted upon a shaft 45 revolubly mounted in brackets 46opposite the ends of the impression cylinders 18 rather than oppositethe ends of the form cylinders 17 as in Fig. 1. Power is applied fromthe shaft 45 tov the cylinders 18 through the medium of bevel gears 47and 48, the cylinders 17 and 18 being connected by intermeshing gears attheir far ends in Fig. 4 in the same way as is shown in Fig. 3 inconnection with the construction of F 1g. 1. A gear 49 carried by theshaft 45 serves to drive an endless belt 50 corresponding with the belt40 of the construction of Fig. 1. Since the operation and effect of theapparatus as shown in Fig. 4 are the same as the operation and effect inconnection with the mechanism of Fig. 1, it is believed to beunnecessary'to describe the same further in detail herein.

In Figs. 6 and 7, which show a unit corresponding to that illustrated inFig. l but provided with a differently arranged driving mechanism, thesame reference charactors are employed as are used in Fig. 1, so far asthe parts correspond. In said Figs. 6 and 7, a longitudinally extendingdrive shaft 51 is provided at the far side of the machine serving todrive a transversely extending shaft 52, said shafts being connectedtogether by means of bevel gears 53 and 54. Upon the near end of theshaft 52, there is mounted a gear 55 about which er;- tends the lowerend of an endles chain 56, the other end of which extends about a gear57 mounted upon a short shaft 58 extending between the frame-work 16 andthe end of a bracket 59. A second gear 60 is fixedly mounted upon theshaft 58 so as to rotate therewith, such gear 60 being in mesh withgears 61 and 62 carried by the impres'ion cylinder 18 at the left insaid Fig. 6 and the plate cylinder 17 at the right, such gearing servingto drive said cylinders 17 and 18 in proper timed relation. At theiropposite ends, the cylinders 17 and 18 are connected together by meansof intermeshing gears 63 and 6%, whereby all of said cylinders aredriven in unison.

In the constructon shown in Fig. 8, the arrangement of the presselements is the same as that shown in Fig. 6, the arrangement of thedriving means only being varied. In this construction, a driving chain65 of decreased length is provided in lieu of the chain 56, such chain65 extending about a gear 66 carried by a short shaft 67 extending fromthe frame-work 16 to a bracket 68. A second gear 69 is mounted on saidshaft 67 so as to rotate therewith, said gear 69 meshing with a gear 70carried by the im pression cylinder 18 at the right in said Fig. 8, saidgear 70 in turn meshing with a gear 71 carried by the impressioncylinder 18 at the left in said figure. The impression cylinders l8 andthe form cylinders 17 as shown in Fig.8 are connected at their far endsby neans of intermeshing gears in the manner shown in Fig. 7, thearrangement being such that the cylinders 17 and 18 are driven incooperative relation.

By the use of my improved construction, in which positively actingendless chains are employed for applying the power to the printingcouples, the weight of the driving means is quite materially decreasedand the tendency for vibration is correspondingly cut down. By myarrangement, I am enabled to drive the press at the high speeds nowdemanded by pressmen without danger of the vibration developing to sucha point as to interfere with the proper operation of the machine.

WVhile I prefer to employ substantially the construction as illustratedin my drawings and as above described, it is to be understood that I donot limit my invention thereto except so far as the claims may be solimited by the prior art.

I claim 1. In a printing press, the combination of a frame, a press unitmounted thereon comprising a plurality of cooperating form andimpression cylinders, a shaft journaled on said frame beneath said unit,a gear mounted on said shaft in parallel position with respect to theface of the frame, a second gear revolubly mounted on the press unit atright angles with respect to said cylinders, positively acting endlessbelt driving connections between said two gears,

a third gear rotatablewith said second gear in parallel position withrespect thereto, and additional gears carried by the form cylinder ofone printing couple and by the impression cylinder of the other printingcouple and meshing with said third gear for driving said cylinders incooperative relation.

2. In a printing press, the combination of a frame, a press unit mountedthereon comprising a plurality of cooperating form and impressioncylinders, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of said frame belowsaid unit, a second shaft extending in transverse position beneath saidunit, driving connections between said shafts, a gear mounted onsaidsecond shaft in parallel position with respect to the frame, a secondgear revolubly mounted on the press unit at right angles with respect tosaid cylinders, positively acting endless belt driving connectionsbetween said two gears, and a plurality of additional gears at rightangles with respect to said cylinders serving to connect said cylinderswith said second gear. 3. In a printing press, the combination of alongitudinally extending main framework, a plurality of press unitframesrising from said frame-work in a row therealong, cooperating form andimpression cylinders comprising two printing couples mounted on each ofsaid unit frames, a drive shaft journaled on said main frameworklongitudinally thereof below said cylinders, a short shaft journaled oneach of said unit frames at one side of the press substantially oppositethe ends of the form and impression cylinders on an axis parallel withthe axes of the cylinders, intermeshing gears connecting the short shaftof each of said units with at least one of the cylinders of said unit,other intermeshing gears connecting said driven parts of each unit withthe remaining cylinders of said units, and positively-acting endlessbelt driving means for each of said units havingoperative connectionsfor driving the short shaft of said unit from said first named shaft.

at. In a printing press, the combination of a longitudinally extendingmain framework, a plurality of press unit frames rising from saidframe-work in a row therealong, cooperating form and impressioncylinders comprising two printing couples mounted on each of said unitframes, a drive shaft journaled on said main framework longitudinallythereof below said cylinders, a short shaft journaled on each of saidunit frames atone side of the press substantially opposite the ends ofthe form and impression cylinders on an axis parallel with the axes ofthe cylinders, intermeshing gears connecting the short shaft of each ofsaid units with at least one of the cylinders of said unit, otherintermeshing gearsconnecting said driven parts of each unit with theremaining cylinders of said units, a second short shaft mounted beloweach of said units in parallel position with respect to the first namedshort shaft of said unit, intermeshing gears connecting the second shortshaft of each unit with said drive shaft, and positively-acting endlessbelt driving means operatively connecting the two short shafts of eachunit together for driving the cylinders of the several units from saiddrive shaft.

5. In a printing press, the combination of a longitudinally extendingmain framework, a plurality of press unit frames rising from saidframe-work in a row therealong, cooperating form and impressioncylinders comprising two printing couples mounted on each of said unitframes, a drive shaft journaled on said main framework longitudinallythereof below said cylinders, a short shaft journaled on each of saidunit frames at one side of the press substantially opposite the ends ofthe form and impression cylinders, intermeshing gears connecting saidshort shaft with at least one of said cylinders, other intermeshinggears connecting said driven parts with the remaining cylinders of saidprinting couples, and positively acting endless belt driving meanshaving operative connection with said shafts for driving the short shaftfrom said first named shaft.

6. In a printing press, the combination of a longitudinally extendingmain framework, a plurality of press unit frames rising from saidframe-work in a row therealong, cooperating form and impressioncylinders comprising two printing couples mounted on each of said unitframes, a drive shaft journaled on said main framework longitudinallythereof below said cylinders, a short shaft journaled on each of saidunit frames at one side of the press substantially opposite the ends ofthe form and impression cylinders, driving means positively connectingsaid short shaft in each unit with two of said cylinders, driving meansat the opposite side of the press positively connecting said twocylinders in operative relationship with the other two of saidcylinders, and positively actingendless belt driving means havingoperative connection with said shafts for driving the shortshaft fromsaid first named shaft.

7. In a printing press, the combination of a frame-work comprising aplurality of press unit frames arranged side by side at the same level,cooperating form and impression cylinders making up two printing cou-'ples mounted on each of said unit frames, means comprising a drive shaftextending longitudinally of said frame-work below said press units fordriving the several units in timed relation to each other, a sprocketgear revolubly mounted on each of said unit frames at one side of thepress substantially opposite the ends of the form and impressioncylinders of said unit, means for driving the cylinders of each unitfrom the sprocket gear on said unit, a positively-aeting endless beltabout each of said sprocket gears, and operative connections betweeneach of said belts and said drive shaft means.

8. In a printing press, the combination of a framework comprising aplurality of press unit frames, cooperating form and impressioncylinders making up two printing couples mounted on each of said unitframes, driving means extending longitudinally of said frame-work belowsaid press unit-s comprising drive shaft means for operating said unitsin timed relation, a sprocket gear revolubly mounted on each of saidunit frames at one side of the press substantially opposite the ends ofthe form and impression cylinders of said unit, positively acting meansfor each of said units operatively connecting said sprocket gear with atleast one of the cylinders of said unit, intermeshing gears connectingsuch driven cylinder of each unit with the remaining cylinders of saidunit, a second sprocket gear for each unit revolubly mounted below saidfirst named sprocket gear and having operative connection with saiddrive shaft means, and positively acting endless belt driving means foreach of said press units connecting the first named sprocket gear ofsaid unit with the second sprocket gear of said unit.

9. In a printing press, the combination of a frame-work comprising aplurality of press unit frames, cooperating form and impressioncylinders making up two printing couples mounted on each of said unitframes, drive shaft means extending longitudinally of said frame-workbelow said units for operating said units in timed relation, a shortshaft extending across the ends of the cylinders of each unit, asprocket gear fixedly mounted on said short shaft in each unit in aplane parallel with said cylinders, means for driving said cylindersfrom said short shaft in each unit, a second sprocket gear for each unitrevolubly mounted below said first named sprocket gear and havingoperative connection with said drive shaft means, and positively actingendless belt driving means connecting the first named sprocket gear ofeach unit with the second sprocket gear of said unit.

10. In a printing press, the combination of a frame, a press unitmounted thereon comprising a plurality of cooperating form andimpression cylinders, a drive shaft journaled on said frame below saidcylinders, and positively acting endless belt driving connectionsbetween said shaft and said cylinders arranged with its rotary partsrotating on horizontal axes at an angle with respect to the axes aboutwhich said cylinders rotate for cutting down the vibration at highspeeds.

11. In a printing press, the combination of a frame, a press unitmounted thereon comprising a plurality of cooperating form andimpression cylinders, a drive shaft journaled on said frame below saidcylinders, and positively acting endless belt driving connectionsbetween said shaft and said cylinders arranged with its rotary partsrotat ing on horizontal axes at right angles with respect to the axesabout which said cylinders rotate.

12. In a printing press, the combination of a frame, a press unitmounted thereon comprising a plurality of cooperating form andimpression cylinders, a drive shaft journaled on said frame below saidcylinders, a short shaft journaled on the press unit parallel with saidfirst named shaft at right angles with respect to the impressioncylinders, bevel gearing connecting said short shaft with saidimpression cylinders for driving the cylinders, and positively actingendless belt driving connections bet-ween said two shafts.

CURTIS S. CRAFTS.

